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Our goal is to keep you, your family, and your friends up to date on everything from finance to health care. We strive to help you make the most informed financial decisions to help you achieve financial success, so you can enjoy everything life has to offer. That’s what our blog is for!

Ready for Retirement? A Friendly Guide to the Next (and Possibly Best) Chapter of Your Life

Retirement. The grand finale. The victory lap. The moment you trade in your alarm clock for… whatever people who sleep past 6 AM use instead. Whether you’re five months or fifteen years away from clocking out for the last time, retirement planning doesn’t have to feel like you’re deciphering ancient hieroglyphics carved into a 401(k) statement. It can be clear, manageable, and—dare we say—kind of fun.

Money Confidence 101: A Friendly Guide to Building a Financial Life You Actually Feel Good About

Money is an emotional creature. It can spark joy, spark stress, or spark that moment at 1 a.m. when you google “Can I retire on vibes alone?” (Unfortunately, no. The math people would like a word.) But while finance often feels overwhelming, here’s a fun fact: studies show that people who have a written financial plan are far more confident about their future. According to a recent Schwab survey, 65% of people with a written plan feel financially stable, compared to just 40% without one.

The State of the Economy in 2025

The State of the Economy in 2025

Welcome to 2025, where the economy is like your Uncle Bob at Thanksgiving—predictable in its unpredictability. The headlines are full of dramatic twists, inflation is the talk of every dinner table, and interest rates have been on more rollercoaster rides than a county fair. But don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Let’s break it all down, keep it light, and figure out how to make the most of this wild economic ride.

How to Evaluate a Stock

There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

While extreme weather events typically affect only certain parts of the country, there is increasing concern that climate change will affect the overall economy – including our investment portfolios. For this reason, the federal government is making composition changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement plan for federal employees. The TSP currently holds more than $762 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

Market Thoughts: Looking Ahead and Abroad

The mid-year U.S. economic recovery numbers look strong. On Wall Street, analysts predict that our economy will expand by trillions of dollars and create 2 million good-paying jobs throughout the next 10 years. However, despite nearly 1 million jobs reported in July alone, the White House cautioned that the resurgence in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated Americans could set us up for an economic relapse in the remainder of the year. While the U.S. lags in vaccination numbers, other countries are starting to pick up the pace.

Young People: Who Said You Have to Be Wealthy to Invest?

Young adults have weathered difficult times the past two decades: mass school shootings, extreme weather conditions, student loan debt and a global pandemic. But now they’re witnessing an unprecedented job market, where even those with little to no work experience can dictate their own terms. It’s important that we steer our young adults to good saving and investing habits now, while they have the capacity to earn increased income. This job market may not always be the reality, so it’s good to build a treasure chest when they have the opportunity.

Moving During Retirement

Some people stay in place when they retire, while others buy a second home or relocate entirely. If you’re thinking of buying a new home, should you plan the purchase before you stop working, or is it possible to get to a mortgage after you’re retired? Plenty of retirees can qualify for a mortgage while on a fixed income, but it can be more difficult. It’s easier if you’re looking to buy a primary residence, as a vacation home could be more of a challenge if you still have a mortgage on your main home.

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Th Top 10 Things to Consider When Preparing For Your Retirement Guide

Top 10 Actions When Preparing For Retirement

Planning for retirement income may seem like a daunting task, but can help you get a handle on preparing for your financial future.

Ready for Retirement? A Friendly Guide to the Next (and Possibly Best) Chapter of Your Life

Retirement. The grand finale. The victory lap. The moment you trade in your alarm clock for… whatever people who sleep past 6 AM use instead. Whether you’re five months or fifteen years away from clocking out for the last time, retirement planning doesn’t have to feel like you’re deciphering ancient hieroglyphics carved into a 401(k) statement. It can be clear, manageable, and—dare we say—kind of fun.

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Who Wants To Work?

Who Wants To Work?

An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.

Pets and Pet Insurance

Pets and Pet Insurance

One of the silver linings coming from the pandemic is that when pet shelters had to close temporarily during lockdowns, a call went out for foster homes so animals would continue receiving the necessary attention. Many of those pets were so loved that they were adopted rather than returned to shelters.

Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

You may have noticed higher prices on the things you buy regularly, like groceries and gas. However, many consumers may not realize that economic factors such as backed-up supply chains, extreme weather events, labor shortages/higher wages, and higher demand are not currently reflected in many consumer prices.

Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

How to Evaluate a Stock

There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

While extreme weather events typically affect only certain parts of the country, there is increasing concern that climate change will affect the overall economy – including our investment portfolios. For this reason, the federal government is making composition changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement plan for federal employees. The TSP currently holds more than $762 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Ready for Retirement? A Friendly Guide to the Next (and Possibly Best) Chapter of Your Life

Retirement. The grand finale. The victory lap. The moment you trade in your alarm clock for… whatever people who sleep past 6 AM use instead. Whether you’re five months or fifteen years away from clocking out for the last time, retirement planning doesn’t have to feel like you’re deciphering ancient hieroglyphics carved into a 401(k) statement. It can be clear, manageable, and—dare we say—kind of fun.

Categories

U.S. Health Care in a Post-COVID Era

U.S. Health Care in a Post-COVID Era

As many workers returned to their offices this fall, employers took on much of the expense of paying for weekly COVID testing, as well as insurance coverage and paid leave for sick and quarantined workers. These extra expenses may well lead to higher insurance premiums for everyone.

Who Wants To Work?

Who Wants To Work?

An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.

Pets and Pet Insurance

Pets and Pet Insurance

One of the silver linings coming from the pandemic is that when pet shelters had to close temporarily during lockdowns, a call went out for foster homes so animals would continue receiving the necessary attention. Many of those pets were so loved that they were adopted rather than returned to shelters.

Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

You may have noticed higher prices on the things you buy regularly, like groceries and gas. However, many consumers may not realize that economic factors such as backed-up supply chains, extreme weather events, labor shortages/higher wages, and higher demand are not currently reflected in many consumer prices.

Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

How to Evaluate a Stock

There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »